25 Book Challenge:
Students are required to read for 20 minutes every day. Most days, students will be allowed to select their own texts; however, students may have assigned reading from time to time. It is imperative that students record completed texts on their weekly reading logs; these logs will be counted as 5% of their final grade for each term. Logs will be collected each Friday, and a new log will be given to students so they will have the opportunity to include any information from weekend reading sessions. For questions about the readings, please e-mail me at kelly.merrbach@fcps.org.
Here's a little about me, my experiences, and my interests.
For class information and resources, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Education and Experience
MA - McDaniel College (Current Student)
BS - Frostburg State University
AA - Hagerstown Community College
This is my second year teaching Language Arts at Oakdale Middle School. I also worked in the Special Education Department at the Frederick County Career and Technology Center for two years. Prior to that, I worked as a substitute teacher. I love school!
Family and Hobbies
My husband, Greg, and I live in Frederick, Maryland. We love going hiking, exercising, playing board games, watching movies, dining out, and watching baseball. My personal hobbies include reading (of course), writing, acting, and singing. Oh, and more reading!
Music and Movies
Some of my favorite (more modern) musical artists are Dave Matthews Band, Paris Combo, Carbon Leaf, Kelly Bell Band, and Five Iron Frenzy, but I also love more classic artists, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, and Etta James. The list goes on and on because I love music of all kinds. What kind of music do you like?
Since I like all different kinds of movies, it's hard to list all of my favorites here. Batman Begins, G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra, Iron Man, X-Men, and The Incredible Hulk are some of my favorite action movies. I also like Finding Nemo, Dennis the Menace, Home Alone, Shrek, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail, just to name a few.
Adult and Young Adult Literature
Some of my favorite books are for middle-school aged students. I love Twilight, The Boxes, Number the Stars, The Giver, Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, Jacob Have I Loved, Where the Lilies Bloom, and A Wrinkle in Time. To find out more of my favorites, come see me, and we'll talk books! Also, see below for some great book lists.
My favorite adult literature includes works by Frank McCourt (Angela's Ashes, 'Tis, and Teacher Man), Mitch Albom (Tuesdays with Morrie, The Five People You Meet In Heaven, and For One More Day), and Sue Monk Kid (Secret Life of Bees), Kaye Gibbons (Charms for the Easy Life). I also like comedic writers (Dave Barry, Erma Bombeck, David Sedaris) and classics (Great Expectations, A Handful of Dust, Dracula, Frankenstein, 1984, Winesburg, Ohio, "The Importance of Being Ernest," "The Glass Menagerie," "The Tempest," and "Measure for Measure.")
Mrs. Merrbach's Page
25 Book Challenge:
Students are required to read for 20 minutes every day. Most days, students will be allowed to select their own texts; however, students may have assigned reading from time to time. It is imperative that students record completed texts on their weekly reading logs; these logs will be counted as 5% of their final grade for each term. Logs will be collected each Friday, and a new log will be given to students so they will have the opportunity to include any information from weekend reading sessions. For questions about the readings, please e-mail me at kelly.merrbach@fcps.org.
Here's a little about me, my experiences, and my interests.
For class information and resources, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Education and Experience
MA - McDaniel College (Current Student)
BS - Frostburg State University
AA - Hagerstown Community College
This is my second year teaching Language Arts at Oakdale Middle School. I also worked in the Special Education Department at the Frederick County Career and Technology Center for two years. Prior to that, I worked as a substitute teacher. I love school!
Family and Hobbies
My husband, Greg, and I live in Frederick, Maryland. We love going hiking, exercising, playing board games, watching movies, dining out, and watching baseball. My personal hobbies include reading (of course), writing, acting, and singing. Oh, and more reading!
Music and Movies
Some of my favorite (more modern) musical artists are Dave Matthews Band, Paris Combo, Carbon Leaf, Kelly Bell Band, and Five Iron Frenzy, but I also love more classic artists, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, and Etta James. The list goes on and on because I love music of all kinds. What kind of music do you like?
Since I like all different kinds of movies, it's hard to list all of my favorites here. Batman Begins, G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra, Iron Man, X-Men, and The Incredible Hulk are some of my favorite action movies. I also like Finding Nemo, Dennis the Menace, Home Alone, Shrek, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail, just to name a few.
Adult and Young Adult Literature
Some of my favorite books are for middle-school aged students. I love Twilight, The Boxes, Number the Stars, The Giver, Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, Jacob Have I Loved, Where the Lilies Bloom, and A Wrinkle in Time. To find out more of my favorites, come see me, and we'll talk books! Also, see below for some great book lists.
My favorite adult literature includes works by Frank McCourt (Angela's Ashes, 'Tis, and Teacher Man), Mitch Albom (Tuesdays with Morrie, The Five People You Meet In Heaven, and For One More Day), and Sue Monk Kid (Secret Life of Bees), Kaye Gibbons (Charms for the Easy Life). I also like comedic writers (Dave Barry, Erma Bombeck, David Sedaris) and classics (Great Expectations, A Handful of Dust, Dracula, Frankenstein, 1984, Winesburg, Ohio, "The Importance of Being Ernest," "The Glass Menagerie," "The Tempest," and "Measure for Measure.")
For reading suggestions, try the following sites, or speak to your Media Specialist or L.A. teacher:
http://www.scholastic.com/kids/stacks/index.asp
http://www.maslmd.org/awards_winners.php
http://www.fcps.edu/dis/readlist/78.htm
http://www.sldirectory.com/libsf/booksf/kidsbooks.html
http://marylaine.com/bookbyte/ya.html
http://www.teenreads.com/index.asp
http://www.fcpl.org/index.php
Class Resources and Web Favorites
Frederick County Public Schools
Oakdale Middle School
Free Rice Games
Grammar Girl Podcasts
Discovery's Puzzle Maker
Scholastic Interactive Activities
Time Magazine for Kids
Go! Animate